Kenneth G. Shea

Kenneth G. Shea, 76, passed away on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

Ken was born in Vermont, one of three Shea boys: His older brothers Dan (Southboro, MA) and Bill Shea of Port St. Lucy, FL. He moved to Hudson in the 1950's. He graduated from Hudson High School in 1966 and enlisted in the US Navy where he served as a communications specialist during the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Cuba among other locations and was honorably discharged, even though he refused to climb to the top of the mast. His fear of height somehow didn’t stop him from barreling down a ski slope…. Often right into the lodge.

Ken was an excellent skier, both downhill and cross country and lived at times at Stratton, VT and Breckenridge, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Ken was also an open road cyclist who took the old Raleigh on many excursions on the local country roads and also on long-range trips on Vermont Rt.100 course and on coastal Maine routes. He once rode his bike from Portland, ME all the way to Bolton, MA arriving in time for an evening swim at Little Pond! On top of skiing and cycling – Ken also played goalie for a local hockey club comprised of players from the Hudson / Marlborough area.

Ken worked for a time for Gold Crown Bowling Alley Refinishing. He was on a crew that resurfaced alleys for the Brunswick Company. He soon then opened his own business refinishing wood floors where he specialized on some of the historical homes in the Hudson & Marlborough.

Ken is most known for his wonderful artwork. He worked brilliantly with pencil, charcoal, oils and watercolors. Some of his favorite works are hanging in old time fishing camps in Maine and ski lodges in Vermont and Colorado. One of his favorite pastimes was being out in the boat on a small pond in Western Maine fishing for brown trout, bass and white perch. He usually carried a small sketch pad in his tackle box so he could capture the site of the mountain range with Mount Washington in the distance and bald eagles soaring overhead.

Ken was an excellent camp cook who could put a great meal on the table for a bunch of hungry fishermen after a long day in the boat. Ken also brought his cooking talents to the Bar Lunch in Hudson where he was a member of the kitchen crew that put out some of the best fried clams in New England. He was a regular at PJ's Pub in Hudson, where he also lent support to the cooking efforts…Like a scene from "Cheers" when Ken walked into the bar. Everyone really did know his name and they were glad to see him there.

Ken loved the life he led. He would work and save all summer so he could spend the winters skiing. He’d work and ski Breckenridge and Vail. He traveled across the country in the early 1970s landing in Berkeley California, where he enjoyed living there for months filling pads of paper with his drawings.

When he returned to Hudson, he registered at the New England School of Art in Boston where he honed his skills using oil paints and constructing his own wooden frames for his very large paintings. Art was a very important part of his life. He was always looking and thinking about what his next piece of art would be. His subjects reflect his love of the simple things in life and his relationship with nature.

Friends are urged to see his art and celebrate his life on Sunday August 17, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. at his favorite watering hole - PJ’s Pub in Hudson MA.